In a year fraught with precariousness and uncertainty for many Canadians, the Atkinson Foundation partners worked hard and smart seizing opportunities to advance the mission of J.E. Atkinson for a more just society.
The Canadian Index of Wellbeing experienced a banner year with the release of its first report. It painted an integrated picture of the living standards, health status and community vitality of Canadians. Riding a wave of media coverage from coast to coast, the first report achieved a goal first imagined almost ten years ago: to change the conversation around the water cooler about how Canada is really doing. Just last week, a follow-up report was launched entitled How are Canadians really doing: A closer look at select groups, examining the wellbeing of low income Canadians, racialized communities, Aboriginal Peoples and young people.
In the midst of the downturn's narrowing debate, our partners within the 25 in 5 Network and beyond found an opening with the message that poverty reduction is key to our economic recovery. They achieved significant gains through budget investments in child benefits and affordable housing, new anti-poverty and temp worker legislation, as well as recent small steps towards a much-needed social assistance review. For ACF, this was also a year in which we furthered fruitful collaborations with our colleagues at the Metcalf Foundation.
World-renowned Aboriginal-rights advocate Cindy Blackstock joined our team of Economic Justice Fellows alongside Uzma Shakir, The Hon. Roy Romanow and Cathy Crowe. Cindy and our colleagues at the North-South Partnership will provide us with ongoing opportunities for our own healing and, in the process, chances to learn from Aboriginal Peoples on how we might be a more helpful partner for justice.
In this respect, we were pleased to partner with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada to launch Caring Across Boundaries, a photography exhibition depicting the challenges and hopes of northern First Nations communities.
So many partners over many years have laid the groundwork for Ontario's recent announcement of a groundbreaking early learning program. The Premier’s vision for full-day learning for four and five year olds, in the context of a prenatal to 12 year old seamless continuum, is a remarkable statement regarding what counts when it comes to a safer, healthier, more just, and prosperous future for all Ontarians.
As we think about the Foundation's priority areas going forward, the challenges of uncertain economic times are compounded by questions about our collective fiscal capacity to invest in a vision for a more just Canada.
We must remain impatient for meaningful change at the same time that we look for every opportunity to strategically cement short term gains here and there, always with an eye on longer-term sustainable progress.
We must also seize the strength of collective thought and action, and put all of our respective assets on the table and plan and act together.
As I reflect on the privilege of supporting the directions of the Foundation’s board over the past 14 years, I am constantly struck by the commitment of Joseph E. Atkinson and the justice crusade he began in 1899. One hundred and ten years later, the Fighting Words, backed up by Atkinson’s Big Ideas, remain as contemporary and relevant as ever - see links in this end-of-year bulletin to online resouces about our founder.
We at the Foundation also join the myriad of partners for positive change who will greatly miss our friend David Pecaut. We remain deeply inspired by his high expectations of all of us and his belief that we can work together to achieve much better outcomes for everyone in our communities.
On behalf of our president, Peter A. Armstrong, and our dedicated board and my staff colleagues, we wish you and all those you love and care for a renewing holiday season and our very best for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010.
Charles E. Pascal
Executive Director
